Electrochemical characterization of tenoxicam using a bare carbon paste electrode under stagnant and forced convection conditions

From potentiostatic current transients and voltammetry studies, carried out under both stagnant and forced convection conditions, the tenoxicam electrochemical behavior on a bare carbon paste rotating disk electrode was assessed in an aqueous solution (pH = 0.403). It was found that tenoxicam's electrochemical oxidation is a mass transfer-controlled process where a current peak is clearly formed at around 0.74 V when the potential scan was varied in the positive direction. However, when the potential was switched to the negative direction, up to the initial potential value, no reduction peak was formed. Tenoxicam's electrochemical oxidation follows an EC mechanism where the electrodic and chemical kinetics are fast. From sample-current voltammetry both the number of electrons, n, that tenoxicam losses during its electro-oxidation and its half-wave potential, E_1/2, were determined to be 2 and 0.770 V vs. Ag/AgCl, respectively. Moreover, from differential pulse voltammetry plots it was confirmed that effectively in this case n = 2. Considering 2 electrons and both the Randles-Sevcik and Cotrell equations, the tenoxicam's diffusion coefficient, D, was determined to be (3.745 ± 0.077) × 10^?6 and (4.116 ± 0.086) × 10^?6 cm² s^?1, respectively. From linear sweep voltammetry plots recorded under forced convection conditions, it was found that Levich's equation describes adequately the limiting current recorded as a function of the electrode rotation rate, from where the D value was also found to be (4.396 ± 0.058) × 10^?6 cm² s^?1. Therefore, the average D value was (4.09 ± 0.33) × 10^?6 cm² s^?1. Furthermore, from the radius of the tenoxicam molecule, previously optimized at M052X/6-31 + G(d,p) level of theory, and using the Stokes–Einstein approach, D was also estimated to be 4.54 × 10^?6 cm² s^?1 which is similar to the experimentally estimated values, under both stagnant and forced convection hydrodynamic conditions.     

Predicting cetane number,kinematic viscosity,density and higher heating value of biodiesel from its fatty acid methyl ester composition

Biodiesel is a renewable bio-fuel derived from natural fats or vegetable oils, and it is considered as a promising alternative to substitute diesel fuels. Cetane number, viscosity, density, and higher heating value are important properties to affect the utilization of biodiesel fuels, because they are involved in the definition of fuel quality and are required as input data for predictive engine combustion models. This work presents the characterization of two biodiesel samples made from beef tallow and soybean oil through their fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) profile. Empirical equations were developed to estimate four physical properties of methyl esters; and an average absolute deviation (AAD) of 5.95%, 2.57%, 0.11% and 0.21% for the cetane number, kinematic viscosity, density, and higher heating value were founded. Cetane number, viscosity, and higher heating value increases because of the increase of molecular weight and these physical properties decrease as the number of double bonds increases. Unlike that of above properties, density decreases as molecular weight increases and density increases as the degree of unsaturation increases. Two general mixing rules and five biodiesel samples were used to study the influence of FAMEs over the physical properties of biodiesel. The prediction of the cetane number, kinematic viscosity, density and higher heating value of biodiesel is very close to the experimental values.     

The effect of microencapsulated phase change materials on the rheology of geopolymer and Portland cement mortars

The effect of microencapsulated phase-change materials (MPCM) on the rheological properties of pre-set geopolymer and Portland cement mortars was examined. Microcapsules with hydrophilic and hydrophobic shells were compared. The shear rate dependency of the viscosities fitted well to a double Carreau model. The zero shear viscosities are higher for geopolymer mortar, illustrating poorer workability. The time evolution of the viscosities was explored at shear rates of 1 and 10 s⁻¹. New empirical equations were developed to quantify the time-dependent viscosity changes. The highest shear rate disrupted the buildup of the mortar structures much more than the lower shear rate. Microcapsules with a hydrophobic shell affect the rheological properties much less than the microcapsules with a hydrophilic shell, due to the higher water adsorption onto the hydrophilic microcapsules. Shear forces was found to break down the initial structures within geopolymer mortars more easily than for Portland cement mortars, while the geopolymer reaction products are able to withstand shear forces better than Portland cement hydration products. Initially, the viscosity of geopolymer mortars increases relatively slowly during due to formation of geopolymer precursors; at longer times, there is a steeper viscosity rise caused by the development of a 3D-geopolymer network. Disruption of agglomerates causes the viscosities of portland cement mortars to decrease during the first few minutes, after which the hydration process (increasing viscosities) competes with shear-induced disruption of the structures (decreasing viscosities), resulting in a complex viscosity behavior.     

Design,Synthesis and Evaluation of 2,4-Diaminoquinazoline Derivatives as Potential Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors

Microtubules are highly dynamic polymers composed of α- and β-tubulin proteins that have been shown to be potential therapeutic targets for the development of anticancer drugs. Currently, a wide variety of chemically diverse agents that bind to β-tubulin have been reported. Nocodazole (NZ) and colchicine (COL) are well-known tubulin-depolymerizing agents that have close binding sites in the β-tubulin. In this study, we designed and synthesized a set of nine 2,4-diaminoquinazoline derivatives that could occupy both NZ and COL binding sites. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against five cancer cell lines (PC-3, HCT-15, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and SK-LU-1), a noncancerous one (COS-7), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The effect of compounds 4 e and 4 i on tubulin organization and polymerization was analyzed on the SK-LU-1 cell line by indirect immunofluorescence, western blotting, and tubulin polymerization assays. Our results demonstrated that both compounds exert their antiproliferative activity by inhibiting tubulin polymerization. Finally, a possible binding pose of 4 i in the NZ/COL binding site was determined by using molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) approaches. To our knowledge, this is the first report of non-N-substituted 2,4-diaminoquinazoline derivatives with the ability to inhibit tubulin polymerization.     

Experimental,equilibrium modelling,and column design for the reactive separation of biomass-derived 2-furoic acid

Electrochemical conversion of biomass to value-added chemicals has gained impetus in recent years. Herein, we present a methodology for recovering biomass-derived 2-furoic acid from the dilute aqueous stream by reactive extraction. The reactive extraction was performed using a chemical extractant, trioctylamine (TOA), with diluents (octanol, chloroform, and diethyl ether). Equilibrium parameters influencing the recovery of 2-furoic acid were evaluated. Using TOA in various diluents, the 2-furoic acid was recovered with 85%–99% efficiency. A 1:1 complex of the 2-furoic acid—TOA was formed in the organic phase, and the experimental equilibrium complexation constant was compared with that obtained from the relative basicity and Langmuir models. The equilibrium parameters were used for column design to estimate the solvent to feed ratio (S/F) and the number of theoretical stages (NTS). The NTS required is 12 to attain 99% recovery of 2-furoic acid in counter-current extraction. The present study sheds light on the reactive extraction process adopted for process intensification with electrochemical conversion, paving the way for the commercialization of valuable products obtained from biomass.     

Support and precursor effects on the preparation of new heterogenized Pt/Sn catalysts for the selective hydroformylation of 1-pentene

New heterogenized Pt/Sn catalysts selective for the hydroformylation of 1-pentene have been synthesized. The complex cis-[PtCl₂(PPh₃)₂] and the SnCl₂.2H₂O or SnC₂O₄ precursors have been anchored on silica-, magnesia- and alumina-carriers. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to determine the surface composition and the nature of the anchored species. The hydroformylation activity was found to depend on the type of support and tin precursor used. Only the silica supported catalysts were active in the hydroformylation reaction. Samples prepared from SnCl₂-2H₂O were 200-fold more active than those prepared from SnC₂O₄. Selectivity ton-hexanal of the silica-supported catalyst prepared from SnCl₂-2H₂O was as high as 94.4% at 39.2% conversion of 1-pentene.     

EFFECT OF CROSS FLOW ON THE SPRAY CHARACTERISTICS OF AN INDUSTRIAL FEED NOZZLE

The spray characteristics of a scaled-down version of an industrial feed nozzle are studied in the presence of a cross flow. Aerated liquid nitrogen is injected through the nozzle to generate the spray. The aeration rate is low and held constant, while two different liquid flow rates are used to produce the spray. A nonuniform wind profile is chosen to represent the cross flow condition. The droplet diameter and velocity measurements are acquired using a phase-Doppler particle analyzer. The results of the present study indicate that the spray momentum flux determines the extent of the jet bending. The droplets are accelerated significantly in the initial jet region as a result of flashing. However, further downstream of the nozzle, the vaporization of the droplets is considered to be negligible. The size-velocity correlation changes significantly for the case where the spray is shifted due to the cross flow.     

Thermosensitive and ampholytic hydrogels for salt solution

A series of N‐isopropylacrylamide/[[3‐(methacryloylamino)propyl]dimethy(3‐sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide] (NIPAAm/MPSA) copolymer hydrogels were prepared with various compositions. Swelling of the hydrogels in water, aqueous NaCl, KCl, CaCl₂, and MgCl₂ solutions was studied. NIPAAm/MPSA hydrogels have a higher degree of swelling in water and salt solutions than that of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm). Also, NIPAAm/MPSA hydrogels are more salt resistant when deswelling in salt solutions. For <7 mol % MPSA, the formed hydrogels retain both temperature reversibility and high swelling. A higher content of MPSA (>11 mol %) leads to better salt resistance but a decrease in thermosensitivity. The swelling of NIPAAm/MPSA hydrogel in 0.05M NaCl is non‐Fickian. In NaCl and KCl aqueous solutions, the zwitterionic hydrogels do not show obvious antipolyelectrolyte swelling behavior, whereas in divalent salt CaCl₂ and MgCl₂ solutions, the swelling ability of NIPAAm/MPSA hydrogels is enhanced at low salt concentration, then decreases with further increase in salt concentration. The lower critical solution temperatures of NIPAAm/MPSA hydrogels are also affected by concentrated salt solution. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 2032–2037, 2003     

Adaptability of sweet corn ears to a frozen process

The effects of frozen condition on the quality of three sweet corn ears (2038, 2010, 2004) and the pattern (Bonanza), were evaluated. Biometrics characteristics like ear size, ear diameter, row and kernel deep were measured as well as chemical and physical measurement in fresh and frozen states. The corn ears were frozen at -95 degrees C by 7 minutes. The yield and stability of the frozen ears were evaluated at 45 and 90 days of frozen storage (-18 degrees C). The average commercial yield as frozen corn ear for all the hybrids was 54.2%. The industry has a similar value range of 48% to 54%. The ear size average was 21.57 cm, row number was 15, ear diameter 45.54 mm and the kernel corn deep was 8.57 mm. All these measurements were found not different from commercial values found for the industry. All corn samples evaluated showed good stability despites the frozen processing and storage. Hybrid 2038 ranked higher in quality.